Agenda and minutes

There were no apologies for absence.

There were no declarations of interests declared.

It was confirmed that the items of business marked Part I would be considered in public and the items marked Part II would be considered in private.

The primary reason for moving to Part II for agenda item 4 was because it contained information which was likely to reveal the identity of an individual and information relating to any action taken or to be taken in connection with the prevention, investigation or prosecution of crime and the public interest in withholding the information outweighed the public interest in disclosing it.

None.

Introduction by Licensing Officer:

Steven Dormer, Licensing Officer at London Borough of Hillingdon introduced the report, photographs and addendum relating to a review of the premises licence for Ocean Superstore, 153 North Hyde Road, UB3 4NS. He provided a background and chronology of events.

Mr Dormer confirmed that Hillingdon Trading Standards and Licensing Services had carried out a compliance visit on 10 October 2017. On the visit officers seized a number of non duty paid and counterfeit tobacco products and medicinal products. The licence holder, Mr Sachdeva, was not there at the time but Mr Bhajan Singh Kapoor was there and present serving customers in the store.

Mr Dormer confirmed that Mr Sachdeva had been in management of the premises since January 2017 but became the licence holder in October 2017. He originally applied for a transfer of a premisis licence and variation of DPS in May 2017 but had not completed the forms properpyl. There were a number of attempts to assist with Mr Sachdeva making the correct application.

On Tuesday 30 January 2018 a further licensing compliance visit was carried out. The premises layout had altered from the current lay out plan, the rear fire exit was blocked with stock offered for sale in the shop and concerns were raised with licence holder that alcohol was stocked in blind spots away from the till point. A new refusals register had been implemented.

Mr Dormer submitted that the initial application to review the licence was made on the basis that the Crime and Disorder objective of the Licensing Act 2003 had been breach. However he submitted, that in light of representations received by other responsible authorities, furthers breaches of licensing objectives including public health and children being at risk of illicit products.

Mr Dormer made a recommendation that the licence should be revoked, having regard to paragraphs 11.19 and 11.27 of the government issued under s 82 of the Licensing Act 2003.

Mr Dormer explained that when the licence was initial applied for the plan layout in the report was different to the plan initially granted. The store room, post office, kitchen and staff room, and WC had been removed. No variation of the premises licence had been applied for. In response to a Member question, Mr Dormer confirmed that he was unable to confirm whether the post office identified the plan had ever been built.

Representation by Applicant for the review:

KiranSeyan, Trading Standards address the Committee. Ms Seyan, on behalf of Trading Standard had applied for the review of a premises licence under s 52 Of the Licensing Act 2003. The application was submitted in breach of the licensing objective - the prevention of crime and disorder.

Ms Seyan provided a chronology of events. Acting on intelligence received, officers from Trading Standards Service and Licensing, accompanied by brand representatives and tobacco detection dogs conducted an inspection of Ocean Superstore on 10 October 2017. As Mr Sachdeva was not in the shop, Ms  ...  view the full minutes text for item 15.